A number of local businesses have expressed outrage at a call made by a youth group aligned to the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for citizens to boycott several businesses because of their alleged association with the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic government. The call was made in a release by Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT), which had been leading a number of protest actions following the November 28 general and regional elections.
Private Sector Commission Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo
The YCT prefaced its call by first condemning the charge against Attorney James Bond and Brigadier Edward Collins. The group spoke about alleged infringements committed by a number of other prominent persons, saying these actions curtail “our human rights and democratic freedoms and we call on all international bodies and civil society groups to condemn this continued abuse”. “.… and we will prepare a list of local businesses which work against our interests to boycott,” the group said. “We will lead a velvet revolution and we will prevail.”
The owner of a group of businesses that have been targeted for boycott, in an invited comment, said he was taken aback by the call to boycott local businesses. The businessman said that if this was the way the APNU would behave when it is out of power, then what would “they do if they formed a government”. He stressed that the private sector is the lifeblood of the economy, and it would be foolhardy for politicians to call on citizens to boycott businesses that have to provide employment to thousands of people, some of whom are their own supporters.
Another businessman who asked not to be named said the APNU was taking its protest actions to another level by calling on citizens to boycott businesses.
“This is an insane call and I know that our people are smart enough not to respond to such a call,” the businessman said. He believes that targeting businesses because of their perceived support for the government was a brainless strategy of political activism.
Since the declarations of the November 28 polls, the APNU has been engaged in streets protests, most of which have been targeting GECOM for its tardiness in the conduct of the elections. The partnership first demanded copies of the Statements of Poll which GECOM delivered on Thursday, but has been pressing more demands, including a government of national unity.
Donald Ramotar was declared the president of Guyana as the incumbent PPP/C won the presidency for the fifth consecutive time at the recently-held general and regional elections.
